Short answer
Reciting some Quran is obligatory inside salah, so every Muslim must learn al-Fatiha and some short surahs. Reading the Quran outside salah is not fard but is a strongly encouraged sunnah, and abandoning it completely is blameworthy. Memorising the whole Quran is a communal duty.
Reciting at least one ayah in each of the first two rakahs of a fard prayer, and every rakah of witr and nafl, is fard; reciting al-Fatiha and a surah is wajib. Learning what salah requires is fard on each person. Reciting outside salah is mustahabb, and leaving the Quran entirely is blameworthy.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Reciting al-Fatiha is a pillar (fard) in every rakah, so learning it is fard on each person.
- Maliki
- Al-Fatiha is obligatory in every rakah.
- Hanbali
- Al-Fatiha is a pillar in every rakah.
Explanation
Inside salah. Allah says "recite what is easy of the Quran" (73:20), and the scholars agree that salah has no validity without some recitation. The schools differ on the exact amount: the Hanafis make one ayah the fard and al-Fatiha plus a surah wajib, while the other three schools make al-Fatiha itself a pillar. Either way, every Muslim, including a new convert, needs to learn al-Fatiha and a few short surahs as soon as they can. See short surahs for salah and learn al-Fatiha.
Outside salah. There is no fixed daily amount that is fard. But the Quran is the Muslim's book of guidance, and it records the Messenger's complaint: "my people have taken this Quran as a thing abandoned" (25:30). The scholars explain that abandonment includes not reciting it, not reflecting on it and not acting on it. So a regular portion, even a page a day, is a strong recommendation.
The community. Memorising the whole Quran is fard kifayah: if enough people do it, the duty is met for everyone; if no one does, all are blameworthy.
If you cannot read Arabic yet, start learning: see how to learn to read the Quran, and meanwhile read a translation (reading in English). The Quran tracker helps you keep a daily habit.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Muzzammil 73:20
۞ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَىٰ مِن ثُلُثَىِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُۥ وَثُلُثَهُۥ وَطَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَعَكَ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرْضَىٰ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يُقَٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ ۚ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًۭا ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍۢ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًۭا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًۭا ۚ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۢ ﴿٢٠﴾
Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you. And Allah determines [the extent of] the night and the day. He has known that you [Muslims] will not be able to do it and has turned to you in forgiveness, so recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur'an. He has known that there will be among you those who are ill and others traveling throughout the land seeking [something] of the bounty of Allah and others fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite what is easy from it and establish prayer and give zakah and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
The command to recite what is easy, which the scholars apply to salah.
Quran, Surah Al-Furqaan 25:30
وَقَالَ ٱلرَّسُولُ يَٰرَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِى ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ هَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ مَهْجُورًۭا ﴿٣٠﴾
And the Messenger has said, "O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur'an as [a thing] abandoned."
Abandoning the Quran is blameworthy.
Sahih Muslim 804
Sahih... اقرءوا القرآن فإنه يأتي يوم القيامة شفيعا لأصحابه ...
"Recite the Quran, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection as an intercessor for its companions."
Encourages regular recitation.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on the description of prayer. The fard amount of recitation and the wajib of al-Fatiha and a surah.
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Salah, section on recitation. Memorising the amount needed for salah is fard on each person, al-Fatiha and a surah wajib, and the whole Quran fard kifayah.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.